Cocaine: Addiction and Side Effects

Over the last 15 years, cocaine usage has been in decline throughout the world; however, it still has the fifth highest usage rate among illegal drugs in America. Each year, it negatively affects millions of people. Cocaine can cause addiction after one use, but its initial, euphoric effects often hide its possible danger.

Using cocaine in the short term can be as harmless as causing minor anxiety or as dangerous as resulting in cardiac arrest or death. Long term abuse ends in addiction, alteration of brain chemistry, and possibly even seizures as the user becomes more sensitive to the drug’s adverse effects.

This guide explains the effects, trends, and dangers of cocaine use based on research from 37 scientific studies, 4 government and international agencies on drug statistics and abuse, and 3 newspapers and books.

Table of Contents

I. Getting Help

Guide to Cocaine Addiction

I. The Basics

Cocaine’s Primary Dangers

Addictiveness: Cocaine is the second most addictive drug according to a 2007 study. In the study, Dr. David Nutt ranked illicit drugs to show how addictive each one was. Cocaine received a 2.39/3, second only to heroin, which was the most addictive and received a 2.78/3.

Unintended side effects:Cocaine commonly leads to irritability, paranoia (extreme and unreasonable distrust of others), and nausea.

Legal risks: Cocaine is a schedule II narcotic, illegal in all states, and is commonly punishable by one year in prison and a $1,000 fine for a first possession offense.

Legal Risks: The legal ramifications of possessing heroin and for selling it are significantly higher than many other drugs because the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) classifies heroin as a “Schedule I” drug.

First offense of cocaine possession may be sentenced to not more than one year in prison, fined not less than $1,000, or both. Larger amounts of cocaine constitute “intent to sell” leading to felony charges and sentences of 2-20 years (1-4 grams) to life (generally greater than 400 grams).

Cocaine and crack are different drugs derived from the same source

Even though crack is often included in the term “cocaine,” the drugs are quite different. Crack and cocaine are both from the coca plant, but their method of extraction and potency differs.

Cocaine is a white powder (hydrochloride salt) and is water soluble. This makes it easy to snort, inject, or take orally. Although typically the purer form (if not cut with other substances, which is common) cocaine powder produces a lower-intensity high with a slower onset than crack cocaine. In its purest form, cocaine retains more of the characteristics of the coca plant than crack.

Crack is true to its name, looking crystalline or rock-like. Crack is often smoked, commonly from a pipe, and is more addictive than cocaine. Smoking crack causes almost immediate changes in the brain and gives users a quick and intense high. Crack is typically not injected since it doesn’t dissolve in water.

II. Cocaine Usage

Global Cocaine Use

According to the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime’s 2016 report, cocaine use has been decreasing across all continents over the past 15 years. The agency estimates that there were about 18.8 million global cocaine users in 2014, and provided the following demographics for cocaine users.

Cocaine Usage in the U.S.

Nearly 25% of all illicit drug users ages 18-25 have tried cocaine

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 36,304,200 Americans had tried cocaine in 2014, and over 1.5 million had used it in the past month. The age group with the heaviest usage is 18 to 25 year-olds.